Published at 5th of October 2018 09:14:00 PM
Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Drought (2)
The servants had worked together, but all they could bring were three barrels and several small tubs . Of the three barrels, one had been used for Chen Rong to bathe, the other two had been for the servants .
After traveling for more than ten miles, a body of water appeared in front of them . The Chen servants filled up the three big barrels and several small wooden tubs, and then thoroughly soaked the fabric .
Wang Zhuo frowned as he watched the Chen people running to and from the lake behind him . He contemplated a little and then shouted left and right: “Go and fill a few drums of water, too . ”
He took everyone by surprise . A Wang lad exclaimed: “Uncle, why believe a woman’s nonsense?”
Wang Zhuo abruptly barked: “What are the empty carriages for? Why are you so full of opinions? Fill them up!”
Through twenty days, both the Wang and Chen houses had eaten a large amount of food . Now there were several empty carriages, perfect to hold this water .
Nobody dared to say a thing at Wang Zhuo’s shout . They couldn’t but follow behind the Chen house to fill up water . But merely wanting to do a perfunctory job, they only loaded a total of twenty barrels .
As the cavalcade moved forward, three more large lakes appeared in the next ten miles . Looking at those clear rippling waves, the Wangs repeatedly shook their heads . Wang Zhuo glowered again and regretfully thought: She is merely an ignorant girl who pretends to be learned . Why did I listen to her and believe her words? Alas, I’ve made myself a laughingstock!
In the evening, the team settled down next to a water source . Under the ridiculing eyes of the Wang youngsters, Chen Rong quietly told her people to refill the barrels that had spilled during the bumpy travel . Then under Nurse Ping’s care, she chose a clean location at the water source and took a bath .
Not only did she wash, but she also forced her group to wash thoroughly .
Fortunately, those who had followed her here were all loyal retainers in the Chen family . Despite feeling that their lady was making a fuss over nothing, they nonetheless carried out her orders without a word .
This translation belongs to hamster428 .
Early next morning, Chen Rong bade everyone to soak the fabric in water again before she began to wash and leave .
Today, the horizon was glaring red the moment the sun rose from the east .
Nurse Ping looked to the sky and called into the carriage: “Miss, it’s going to be a blazing day . ”
From the carriage came Chen Rong’s soft hum .
Since yesterday afternoon, Chen Rong had returned to the middle of the queue not wanting to see the looks the Wangs were giving her .
The team continued to drive forward .
By this time, the Wang children were no longer in a playing mood . Under their urging, the group moved at a brisk pace . They covered almost forty miles in only one morning .
By noontime, however, the weather got increasingly stifling .
Everything on the ground was heated by the scorching sun above . As the cavalcade moved along, scattered dust was sent straight to the sky . It appeared this place had not received any rain for some time .
The troop suddenly slowed down in front .
Poking her head out, Nurse Ping was surprised to find smoke whipping high ahead . They turned out to be uniformed men on horsebacks belonging to the Wang house .
Sponsored Content
Strange, their trip had been peaceful all along . Why had the house of Wang sent explorers to scout the roads?
These men rushed to the Wang patriarch . She did not know what they said . All of a sudden, the Wang children’s griping murmurs flowed into their ears .
“What happened?” Nurse Ping asked in curiosity .
Next to her, Old Shang lowered his voice in reply: “They said there is no water within thirty miles ahead of us . The wells have dried up along the way, and the villagers said it had been a full month without rain here . The water they normally use is from the east side of the mountain, but that Qishan mountain range is twenty miles from here . Going there and back will take at least one day . ”
At this point, Old Shang looked into the carriage where Chen Rong sat . Shock was evident in his eyes, as it was in Nurse Ping’s . She looked to the fluttering curtain in astonishment while uttering: “Our lady seems to have known about this . ”
This translation belongs to hamster428 .
The cavalcade came to a stop at this time .
Nurse Ping noticed that the Wang servants were taking a few barrels of water from the carriage and began to feed the horses .
With the clear water in plain sight, a girl suddenly demanded: “Uncle, why give water to these animals? It’s such a sweltering day, and I still hadn’t taken a bath . ”
Another Wang lad also cried out: “Father, let us take a bath and then give what’s left to these animals . ”
The rest quieted down for Wang Zhuo’s reply that shortly came: “Silence . Before we can find a well, we shan’t waste a single bucket of water . ”
Sponsored Content
“Uncle, we’ll only wash lightly . As long as we don’t make a splash, it would be all right . ”
“Aye, aye, it’s so wasteful to let these animals drink such clean water . ”
Wang Zhuo briefly paused before his commanding voice rose again: “I’m only giving eight barrels of water to the horses . With so many of you, to whom should the eight barrels be given? Stop making a ruckus . No one is allowed to use the available water to bathe . ”
“We will speed up after the horses have their water,” he began to placate them at this point . “We shall have to find sufficient water as soon as possible . By then, there would be plenty for you to bathe and play . ”
This time, the Wang children stopped their clamor, but the low mutters and complaints remained .
Nurse Ping had just recovered her attention by the time Chen Rong’s voice came to her from the carriage: “Nurse, let our horses chew on the wet fabric . ”
“Aye, miss . ”
After all the horses had been fed, the team started up again . This time, they quieted down and began to go at full speed .
Both houses of Wang and Chen had thoroughly planned for the journey south . It could be said that this team was primarily composed of carriages . In addition to four pulling horses, there were two backup horses for every carriage .
Under the present situation, the thirty-mile road took an hour to travel .
The sun in the sky nonetheless remained scorching . Fields on both sides of the road were still covered in dry cracks . Dust filled the air as they drove along, not a drop of water was found in the wells . Thick clumps of weed told them that this place had been arid for a long time .
This time, the Wang children had a vague feeling that things weren’t so good . Their grumbling soon turned into worried questions and curses .
Sponsored Content
The cavalcade continued to rush forward .
Another hour passed by .
The sun was descending to the west, and the air current was not so stifling anymore .
Nonetheless, the team was shrouded under a dreadful unease . The more south they went, the more they discovered in dismay that the conditions of the fields were getting worse and worse .
Everyone now felt his throat to be parched . Even the dashing horses began to feel anemic .
And yet in front of them was still an empty vastness . It was only early autumn, but everything in sight was barren and dry!
Panic and anxiety seized the group . Only horses of the Chen house were still full of energy for having chewed on soaked fabric .
Amid restless eyes, Wang Zhuo gave an order: “Wang You, give the horses enough to drink and go scout the area . Report back once you see water!”
“Aye . ”
After a pause, Wang Zhuo’s tired voice spoke again: “Call Ah Rong of the Chen house over . ”
“Aye . ”
The order had scarcely been accepted before a Wang child hastily said, “Father, don’t . You must not do that . ” He lowered his voice and nervously added under the questioning eyes of Wang Zhuo: “Father, you are the patriarch of the Wang house . But in just a short distance you have twice asked for advice from a concubine-born daughter of the Chen house . Isn’t this the same as handing your reputation to Chen Rong?”